Without fanfare and on his last day in office, President Trump issued a Memorandum protecting most Venezuelan exiles from deportation. The program grants work authorization which, in Florida, allows for the recipient to get a driver's license. With the program, the United States will defer for 18 months the removal of most Venezuelan nationals who were present in the U.S. on January 20, 2021. President Biden has expressed an intent to provide Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan exiles. Such action would bring additional benefits to those who qualify.
In advance of these initiatives, we recommend all eligible Venezuelans be pro-active and ready to take advantage of the opportunity. Being ready includes gathering and keeping records related to proof of presence in the U.S., paying taxes, and, of course, avoiding any interaction with law enforcement.
This is very welcome news. The door for legal status for Venezuelans has been cracked open.